New Lathe, well maybe not “new”

This topic has 19 replies, 13 voices, and was last updated 4 July 2015 at 17:36 by Roderick Jenkins.

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21 June 2015 at 17:10 #194331
Oompa Lumpa
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@oompalumpa34302
But new to me. A friend of mine who has an antiques shop called me up last week and said "I have a chap here trying to sell me a lathe, do you want it?

What is it? was the obvious first question, "it's nice" was the answer so essentially I bought a pig in a poke. I had absolutely no idea at all as to what I had bought but I wasn't disappointed with the purchase, it is a lovely antique lathe with all the "bits" and it is actually in a very useable condition. I will not be using it of course, I have something else in mind for it (no – I will not be cutting it up/otherwise destroying it) but if anyone could give me any idea as to it's possible origins (other than from Jeff at the antique shop) I would be grateful as I am going to be asked the question innumerable times I would imagine.

22" between centres and 31/4" from the bed to the centre of the chuck. Lovely thing it is too. No chuck key though

graham.
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21 June 2015 at 17:10 #17750
Oompa Lumpa
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@oompalumpa34302
21 June 2015 at 17:21 #194335
John Stevenson 1
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@johnstevenson1
Seen one of these before.

It's a lathe.
21 June 2015 at 17:28 #194339
Rainbows
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@rainbows
Would I be correct to say that the bed design is one generally more popular with USA made lathes?
21 June 2015 at 17:33 #194342
Oompa Lumpa
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@oompalumpa34302
Posted by John Stevenson on 21/06/2015 17:21:10:

Seen one of these before.

It's a lathe.

Yes, but I think it is ambidextrous though as there is a steady rest (shown not so well in the top photograph) that looks "woodworking-ish".

graham.
21 June 2015 at 17:33 #194343
Rik Shaw
Participant
@rikshaw
If it were mine I would send a pic to Tony at "lathes" and hope he can come up with an answer for you. A lovely looking machine and one that could arguably be described as an instrument makers lathe.

Rik
21 June 2015 at 19:01 #194358
Ian P
Participant
@ianp
Graham

Can't help with the lathe, but it looks quality.

Any news on the EDM yet?

Ian P
21 June 2015 at 20:12 #194367
frank brown
Participant
@frankbrown22225
Looks old, Pre 1910? have you measured the tapers?, some are patent to one lathe manufacturer.

Frank
21 June 2015 at 20:31 #194368
Michael Gilligan
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@michaelgilligan61133
Graham,

It has general look of WolfJahn

**LINK**

The angle scale for that top slide is rather impressive … Could you do a detail photo, please.

MichaelG.
21 June 2015 at 22:18 #194378
Bazyle
Participant
@bazyle
It is like a George Adams 2 1/2 clockmakers lathe (bigger than watchmakers) though it is a bit more elaborate than one of those. Hence the hand rest – not for woodworking.
21 June 2015 at 22:31 #194383
Michael Gilligan
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@michaelgilligan61133
Interesting that you should mention George Adams, Bazyle

The opening paragraph on this page is quite revealing.

MichaelG.
21 June 2015 at 22:31 #194384
Roderick Jenkins
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@roderickjenkins93242
Graham,

Have a look at the Lorch Model A

HTH

Rod
21 June 2015 at 23:52 #194394
Ajohnw
Participant
@ajohnw51620
My father told me that there were variations on a V and flat lathes beds about well prior to WW II.

I would like to see a close up of the whole angle setting area and one of the lead screw dials. I have seen a lathe some where with the angle scales and a long pointer like this one but as there appears to be 2 scales I'd be inclined to think that in this case it's an add on. Also from it's appearance I wonder if the slide rest actually belongs to the lathe, Is the slide rest fitted to a block which is shaped to fit the bed and also looks like it has more age in the same way the other bed fittings do?

John

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2 July 2015 at 11:33 #195560
Roderick Jenkins
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@roderickjenkins93242
Hi Graham,

This posting turned up over on MEM:

**LINK**

It looks very much as if yours is an early Lorch

Rod

Edited By Roderick Jenkins on 02/07/2015 11:35:16
2 July 2015 at 13:01 #195579
Ian S C
Participant
@iansc
Rod, I'd tend to agree, unless it's a copy.

Ian S C
2 July 2015 at 20:37 #195624
Phil Whitley
Participant
@philwhitley94135
Looking at the unusually long travel on the compound and the long and elaborate angle indicator which would increase the accuracy for angle setting, I would hazard a guess that this machine is designed for taoer turning.

Phil
2 July 2015 at 20:37 #195625
Phil Whitley
Participant
@philwhitley94135
TAPER!! turning that is!
4 July 2015 at 12:22 #195744
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
Those ring-nuts 'ring' a bell.

I remember an article in an old ME on someone making a replacement one for an old lathe – now if we could find the article I bet it's the same lathe…

Neil
4 July 2015 at 16:22 #195758
Ajohnw
Participant
@ajohnw51620
I think those weird shaped nuts are an English thing. However I dont think that it is one of these

**LINK**

Nice nuts – can put a crow bar through them to do some English heavy duty turning. I'd guess the slide rest – the name of the cross and compound, is I suspect continental or at least doesn't belong with the lathe. Hence the couple of questions I asked.

John

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4 July 2015 at 17:36 #195766
Roderick Jenkins
Participant
@roderickjenkins93242
The last illustration of the Lorch model A iv on Tony's site shows ring nuts and a similar unbalanced handle on the"topslide".

Rod (possibly flogging a dead horse)
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